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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: mark · arm · ground · cabinet · charge · fan · foot · fork

  1. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. There's no middle ________________.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. ground — a position
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. mark — a trace
  5. charge — electricity
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. charge — in control
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. mark — a grade
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. charge — a price
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. foot — a measure
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. ground — crushed
  20. ground — the earth
  21. fork — in a road
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. arm — part of the body

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com